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Kentucky
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Kentucky

Commonwealth of Kentucky
(In Detail) (Full size)
State nickname: Bluegrass State

Other U.S. States
Capital Frankfort
Largest City Louisville
Governor Ernie Fletcher
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
 - % water 		Ranked 37th
104,749 km²
102,989 km²
1,760 km²
1.7% 
               

Population 
 - Total (2000) 
 - Density
Ranked 25th
 4,041,769 
 39/km²


Admittance into Union
 - Order
 - Date

15th
June 1, 1792


Time zone  
Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Central: UTC-6/-5
eastern counties in Eastern Timezone,
western counties in Central Timezone




Latitude

Longitude                  

36°30'N to 39°9'N

 81°58'W to 89°34'W




Width

Length

Elevation

 - Highest

 - Mean

 - Lowest

225 km

610 km

 

1,262 meters

230 meters

78 meters



ISO 3166-2:US-KY



Kentucky is a southern state of The United States Of America and was the 15th state admitted to the Union. 

Kentucky and its residents are probably most well known for thoroughbred horses and racing, local whiskey distilleries and unbridled fanaticism for basketball.  The two principal rivals in the state are the University of Kentucky (blue, Wildcats) and the University of Louisville (red, Cardinals).

Several US Navy ships have been named USS Kentucky in honor of the state.  The USS "Paducah"  also served.

		


Table of contents 







1 History

2 Law and Government

3 Geography


4 Economy

5 Demographics

6 Important cities and towns

7 Education


8 Professional sports teams

9 Miscellaneous information

10 See also

11 External links




History

Kentucky is one of four states to call itself a commonwealth. At one point in time, Kentucky was a county of Virginia.  Ten constitutional conventions took place at the courthouse of Constitution Square in Danville, Kentucky between 1784-1792.  In 1790, Kentucky delegates accepted Virginia's terms for separation, and the state constitution was drafted at the final convention in April 1792.  On June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state in the union and Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero, was named the first Governor of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky.  

On May 20, 1861 during the American Civil War, Kentucky proclaimed its neutrality in the conflict but was forced to take the side of the  Union on September 3 when  Confederate forces under General Leonidas Polk invaded.

Kentucky’s name is derived from the Cherokee word for "meadowland" after the bluegrass pastures that lured early pioneers to the state.


Law and Government

The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort and its governor is Ernie Fletcher (Republican). Kentucky's two U.S. senators are Jim Bunning (Republican) and Mitch McConnell (Republican). The Kentucky Constitution provides for three branches of government: the legislative, the judicial, and the executive. Kentucky's General Assembly has two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.See List of Kentucky Governors.


Geography

See: List of Kentucky counties

Kentucky, also known as The Bluegrass State, borders the Midwest and Deep South. It touches West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and is bordered on the north by the Ohio River. There are five main regions, the Cumberland Mountains and Cumberland Plateau in the southeast, the north-central Bluegrass Region, the south-central and western Pennyroyal Plateau, also sometimes termed "Pennyrile", the western coal-fields area, and the far-west Jackson Purchase.  

The largest cities in Kentucky in terms of geographic area are the two metro city/counties of Lexington and Louisville, although Louisville has a much larger metropolitan population.  Northern Kentucky, an assemblage of smaller cities across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio, also has a large metropolitan population.


Significant natural attractions


Economy

The total gross state product for 1999 was $113 billion, placing Kentucky 26th in the nation. Its Per Capita Personal Income is $24,294, 40th in the nation. Kentucky's agricultural outputs are horses, cattle, tobacco,dairy products, hogs, soybeans, and corn. Its industrial outputs are transportation equipment, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, food processing, tobacco products, coal, and tourism.


Demographics

According to the national census, there were 4,041,769 people living in Kentucky in 2000. The population was 89.3% white, 7.3% African American, 1.5% Hispanic, 0.7% Asian, and 0.2% Native American.


Important cities and towns

Population > 100,000 (urbanized areas)
Population > 10,000 (urbanized areas)
Important suburbs and small towns

Education


Colleges and universities


Private


Public


Community colleges


Professional sports teams

The Minor League baseball teams are:
The Minor League hockey teams are:

  • Lexington Men O'War

  • Louisville Panthers
    

The National Indoor Football League teams are:

  • Lexington Horsemen
    

Miscellaneous information


See also


External links

redirect 





"Kentucky" is also a common Caribbean nickname for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).











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	50States.com - Kentucky State Symbols
Features state symbols, flag, maps, constitution, representitives, song, bird, flower, and tree. Includes related links.
http://www.50states.com/kentucky.htm

Kentucky
A list of state symbols and emblems with dates of adoption.
http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/ky_symb.htm

Kentucky Information Page
Quick access to information about the state of Kentucky, including history, population and census, economy, agriculture, geography and people.
http://www.louisville.edu/~easchn01/

The Kentucky Quarter
From the United States Mint. The Kentucky quarter shows the stately mansion, Federal Hill, with an inscription that reads, "My Old Kentucky Home." A thoroughbred racehorse is positioned behind a fence in the foreground of the quarter.
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/50sq_program/states/ky/

Commonwealth of Kentucky
The starting point for state government, education and other websites in Kentucky.
http://kentucky.gov/














	









  

    
    

        

        
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